Sokoto State Government has established 15 demonstration farms in secondary schools to inculcate entrepreneurship skills among students in the state.

Gov. Aminu Tambuwal disclosed this on Thursday when he declared open a sensitisation workshop on Bird Flu(Avian Influenza) for poultry farmers and other stakeholders.

The workshop has its theme: ” Biosecurity and Biosafety in Commercial and Backyard Poultry Farms.”

It was organised by the State Poultry Development Agency in collaboration with the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Von, Plateau.

Tambuwal, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Sai’du Umar, said preparations have reached an advanced stage to establish giant poultry feeds factory and hatchery that will produce at least 120,000 day-old chicks.

He explained that a two-week training programme has been designed for 12,000 poultry farmers on modern poultry farming skills, as well as distribution of starter packs after the training.

According to him, the agency was established in 2017 to facilitate growing poultry businesses and exposed citizens to utilise the advantages the state has on farming business.

” Poultry farming is at present being recognised as a global business that promotes food sufficiency and facilitates economic growth.

” The agency was established to adopt modern ways of poultry production, support economic empowerment and fight poverty with healthy and safer measures, ” Tambuwal said.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the governor on Poultry Development Agency, Prof. Bello Alkali, said the agency was saddled with the responsibility of harnessing poultry as subsistence and commercial venture across the state.

” Part of the mandate of the agency is to work closely with stakeholders, including livestock and veterinary professionals, to introduce policy guidelines that would lead to the development of the sector for the benefit of the citizens.

” The agency provides technical services, particularly on standard poultry production farms, feeds production, biosecurity, and diseases prevention, among others.

” Steps are geared to guarantee high quality and healthy production as a unique move in the right direction.

” Economic diversity is no longer a choice, but a necessity, the only way to guarantee food security is to cater for the mass population, ” Alkali said.

The commissioner said that the workshop was aimed at enhancing the poultry farmers’ capacity, educating them on Avian Influenza, ways to handle outbreaks, as well as associated issues.

He commended Tambuwal for massive investments in the agricultural sector that attracted accelerated development along with that state government preparedness on disease control measures.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Maryam Muhammad, the Executive Director of the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI).